Trekking in Yana - an experience not to be missed

Trekking in Yana - an experience not to be missed

Thirty kilometers from Kumta is a hidden nature’s treasure, the Yana caves. This was my second visit to Yana, and one of my favorite nature spots in Karnataka.

Solid black crystalline limestone rock formations of Yana

How to reach:

There are two routes to reach Yana, one from Kumta where it involves 2 km moderate level climbing after end of motor able roads and other route is from Sirsi which requires only 500 m easy trek. We took the longer route as we were headed from Kumta.

To reach Yana from the Kumta-Sirsi highway look for the signboards, GPS position goes missing on Google map once you take the Yana road, yes you can imagine it is such a remote place and human settlements are seldom seen here. From the highway it is about 18 km to Yana, while the Google maps show it as 12 km. The route takes you through the canopies of evergreen forests with numerous water streams and waterfalls on the roadside. Tributaries of the River Aghnashini flow alongside the route until Yana. The road ends into a parking area, there is a small shop where you can buy eateries or soft drinks before you start your trek.

CLICK HERE for my earlier voyage to Yana & Uttara Kannada

Yana Trek:

The 2 km trek from here till the Yana rocks keep you full of activity with frequent water streams passing, strange rock formations and small waterfalls throughout the trekking trail even without getting kissed by the Sunlight.

Waterfalls of the tributary of Aghnashini River flowing through the trek route

Rock formations through the trek trail

One of the Strange rock formations of Yana

The first of the Yana rocks is the Mohini Shikhara from which it gets very steep and local municipality has constructed steps about 300 in number to reach the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara.

300 ft tall Mohini Shikhara

Way to Bhairaveshwara Shikhara

During monsoons the rocks will be covered with greenery, and during summer it can get a little exhausted because of the 2 km Trek with a climb of about 100-150 m in altitude.

Green carpet over the rocks at Yana

At the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara there is a Shiva temple and from behind there is a trail which goes inside the cave.

Bhairaveshwara Shikhara, 390 ft in height

Since it had started to rain we began to run down towards the car parking, which is our only shelter from rains. Halfway through it started raining heavily and seeking no shelter (forgot to carry umbrella) ran through the muddy and slippery trail. Finally managed to reach the car before getting completely drenched, I was more worried about my new Nexus 6P. Probably the thick canopies saved my Nexus 6P from getting wet.

Yana trek trail

It starts getting dark 4 pm onwards due to the thick forest cover blocking the sunlight, especially when it’s cloudy, so plan accordingly.

Rains stopped after a while, and on our way back stopped at the bridge over the tributary of Aghnashini River.

River Streams through the Yana road

Dared to go inside the forest to reach the river through a small trail beside bridge, it was pretty dark here and water was crystal clear with total silence around.

Away from the main road, view inside the forest

In my previous visit to Yana, we had taken the Sirsi route and realized I had missed this lovely trekking experience earlier.

More than the rock formations it is trekking experience which makes the visit more exciting, undoubtedly an experience not to be missed.

Devimane Ghat view point:

On our way back to Bengaluru stopped by Shri Mahasati Devi Temple for Devimane Ghat view point. Devimane Ghat is an endless cover of forest and without any sights of human settlements, a perfect place to end our journey.

Boundless cover of forest at the Devimane Ghat

Devimane Ghat